Mixed doubles duo clinches Aviators win

The fifth set of Mylan World TeamTennis has not been particularly kind to the San Diego Aviators.

Since winning the fifth set of the first match of the season, the Aviators had lost the fifth set in every following match — including the one that occurred on Saturday night against the Boston Lobsters.

But that did not guarantee an Aviators loss. Playing the final set for the first time in front of a Valley View Casino Center crowd, mixed doubles pair Raven Klaasen and Kveta Peschke clinched the match in overtime for a 21-19 win.

Early in the match, though, the forecast of an Aviators (3-2) victory was not promising. In fact, midway through the women’s singles set, they trailed the Lobsters (0-5), 9-4.

But the Aviators took advantage of the men’s doubles set — that coach Dave Macpherson switched in the order of play to third — to trim the deficit to 13-12. And by the fifth game of the following women’s doubles set, the Aviators regained the lead at 15-14.

Peschke and Daniela Hantuchova continued to bring the Aviators — and their fans — back into the match. The following game, the pair reached a break point. Coaches and players were standing, raising their hands to pump up the crowd. The duo converted. The arena erupted.

The following game, the Aviators clinched the fourth set.

But Megan Moulton-Levy and Eric Butorac quickly quieted the fans during the mixed doubles set. Surging to a 4-1 start, even reaching match point, the Aviators hopes of a win were nearly crushed. But Moulton-Levy hit a backhand into the net on a match and game-deciding point and the Aviators were spared.

Winning the following game on a deciding point with a Peschke ace, the Aviators cushioned their lead enough to force overtime after eventually losing the set, 5-3.

And with Klaasen serving out the match, the Aviators crushed a serve on match point that Butorac returned into the net. The Aviators now start a six-game road trip, with their next match today at 5:30 p.m. at Texas.